The La Grande girls cross-country team celebrates its district title on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, and now eye a repeat of last year’s OSAA Class 4A state title.

PENDLETON — To repeat as the state 4A cross-country champions, the first step is to qualify for the state meet. The La Grande girls made it over that hurdle on Thursday, Oct. 26, winning the 4A Greater Oregon League race on the Birch Creek Golf Course, Pendleton, taking four of the top five individual spots.

The Tigers ended the race with 23 points to again claim the district title. Baker, scoring 48 points, will be the second team from the Greater Oregon League headed to the state meet. Pendleton squad finished third with a point total of 49.

The back-and-forth seasonal battle between teammates Cecilia Villagomez and Brooke Perry continued at the district meet with the nod going this time to Villagomez. The junior grabbed the district medal after a time of 18 minutes, 20.3 seconds, while Perry placed second after crossing the line in 18:40.4.

Senior Emily Tubbs grabbed third in her final district race after recording a time of 19:18.7 and Kiah Carlson completed the top four sweep for La Grande with a time of 19:35.3. The final member of the Tigers making the trip to state and looking for a repeat of last year’s state title will be senior Faith Calhoun, placing 13th in the district competition.

The La Grande boys will not be appearing at the state meet as a team, but junior Josef Simonis placed third, finishing with a time of 17:25.7, qualifying as an individual for state.

The Greater Oregon League will be represented by Baker as the district champions and Pendleton. The Bulldogs ended their day at district with 40 points, while the Buckaroos put up 47 points. La Grande finished third after a point total of 62 and Ontario wrapped up its meet with 73 points.

Simonis and the Tigers will be on the campus of Lane Community College on Nov. 4 to compete in the 4A state championship. The La Grande girls take to the course at 11:45 a.m., looking to repeat last season’s state title success. Simonis will meet the other 4A runners for the boys race starting at 12:20 p.m.